Stream class driver for computer operating system

• US 20020032805A1
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Parry, William G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,845,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/321
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons

Abstract

A stream class driver for use in a computer operating system functions together with a minidriver. The minidriver is associated with a particular design for an adapter, which is a hardware device that generates or receives streaming data. The stream class driver deals with common operating system tasks such as direct memory access, scatter/gather memory use and Plug n Play. The stream class driver is independent of the hardware design and can therefore function with any type of streaming device or external buses such as USB or IEEE 1394. The minidriver functionality is limited to only those functions required by the unique aspects of the hardware and for the minimum requirements of operation, thereby minimizing the complexity and burden of designing minidrivers for hardware devices.

Claims

1. A method of operation for a stream class driver which functions in conjunction with a minidriver that is associated with a hardware adapter which generates or receives streaming data, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving initialization data from said minidriver,

registering said initialization data,

creating a device object for said adapter,

providing a command to said minidriver to initialize said adapter,

requesting adapter stream information from said minidriver, and

registering said adapter stream information.

2. A method of operation for a stream class driver as recited in claim 1 including the steps of:

providing a command to said minidriver to turn off power to said adapter, and

paging out said minidriver.

3. A method of operation for a stream class driver which functions in conjunction with a minidriver that is associated with a hardware adapter which generates or receives streaming data, the method, after said adapter has been initialized, comprising the steps of:

paging in said minidriver upon receipt of a data stream request,

providing a command to said minidriver to turn on power to said adapter,

providing a data stream open command and stream structure data to said minidriver,

providing a stream read or write command to said minidriver,

providing properties and control information related to said stream request to said minidriver,

providing a stream close command to said minidriver upon receipt of a data stream termination command, and

providing an uninitialization command to said minidriver for uninitializing said adapter.

4. A method of operation for a stream class driver as recited in claim 3 wherein said data stream is a video data stream.

5. A method of operation for a stream class driver as recited in claim 3 wherein said data stream is an audio data stream.

6. A method of operation for a stream class driver as recited in claim 3 including the following steps performed prior to said step of providing an uninitialization command to said minidriver:

providing a second data stream open command and second stream structure data to said minidriver upon receipt of a second data stream request,

providing a second stream read or write command to said minidriver,

providing properties and control information related to said second stream request to said minidriver, wherein said first and second data streams are opened concurrently, and

providing a second stream close command to said minidriver upon receipt of a data stream termination command for said second data stream.

7. A method of operation for a stream class driver which functions in conjunction with a minidriver that is associated with a hardware adapter which generates or receives streaming data, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving initialization data from said minidriver,

registering said initialization data,

creating a device object for said adapter,

providing a command to said minidriver to initialize said adapter,

requesting adapter stream information from said minidriver,

registering said adapter stream information,

providing a command to said minidriver to turn off power to said adapter,

paging out said minidriver,

paging in said minidriver upon receipt of a data stream request,

providing a command to said minidriver to turn on power to said adapter,

providing a data stream open command and stream structure data to said minidriver,

providing a stream read or write command to said minidriver,

providing properties and control information related to said stream request to said minidriver,

providing a stream close command to said minidriver upon receipt of a data stream termination command, and

providing an uninitialization command to said minidriver for uninitializig said adapter.

8. A method of operation for a stream class driver as recited in claim 7 wherein said data stream is a video data stream.

9. A method of operation for a stream class driver as recited in claim 7 wherein said data stream is an audio data stream.

10. A method of operation for a stream class driver as recited in claim 7 including the following steps performed after said step of providing properties and control information related to said stream request to said minidriver and prior to said step of providing an uninitialization command to said minidriver:

providing a second data stream open command and second stream structure data to said minidriver upon receipt of a second data stream request,

providing a second stream read or write command to said minidriver,

providing properties and control information related to said second stream request to said minidriver, wherein said first and second data streams are opened concurrently, and

providing a second stream close command to said minidriver upon receipt of a data stream termination command for said second data stream.

11. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing operation of a stream class driver which functions in conjunction with a minidriver that is associated with a hardware adapter which generates or receives streaming data, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising;

computer readable program code means for receiving initialization data from said minidriver,

computer readable program code means for registering said initialization data,

computer readable program code means for creating a device object for said adapter,

computer readable program code means for providing a command to said minidriver to initialize said adapter,

computer readable program code means for requesting adapter stream information from said minidriver, and

computer readable program code means for registering said adapter stream information.

12. A computer program product as recited in claim 11 including:

computer readable program code means for providing a command to said minidriver to turn off power to said adapter, and

computer readable program code means for paging out said minidriver.

14. A computer program product as recited in claim 13 including:

computer readable program code means for providing a second data stream open command and second stream structure data to said minidriver upon receipt of a second data stream request,

computer readable program code means for providing a second stream read or write command to said minidriver,

computer readable program code means for providing properties and control information related to said second stream request to said minidriver, wherein said first and second data streams are opened concurrently, and

computer readable program code means for providing a second stream close command to said minidriver upon receipt of a data stream termination command for said second data stream.

16. A computer program product as recited in claim 15 including:

computer readable program code means for providing a second data stream open command and second stream structure data to said minidriver upon receipt of a second data stream request,

computer readable program code means for providing a second stream read or write command to said minidriver,

computer readable program code means for providing properties and control information related to said second stream request to said minidriver, wherein said first and second data streams are opened concurrently, and

computer readable program code means for providing a second stream close command to said minidriver upon receipt of a data stream termination command for said second data stream.

13. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing operation of a stream class driver which functions in conjunction with a minidriver that is associated with a hardware adapter which generates or receives streaming data, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising;

computer readable program code means for paging in said minidriver upon receipt of a data stream request,

computer readable program code means for providing a command to said minidriver to turn on power to said adapter,

computer readable program code means for providing a data stream open command and stream structure data to said minidriver,

computer readable program code means for providing a stream read or write command to said minidriver,

computer readable program code means for providing properties and control information related to said stream request to said minidriver,

computer readable program code means for providing a stream close command to said minidriver upon receipt of a data stream termination command, and

computer readable program code means for providing an uninitialization command to said minidriver for uninitializing said adapter.

15. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing operation of a stream class driver which functions in conjunction with a minidriver that is associated with a hardware adapter which generates or receives streaming data, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising;

computer readable program code means for receiving initialization data from said minidriver,

computer readable program code means for registering said initialization data,

computer readable program code means for creating a device object for said adapter,

computer readable program code means for providing a command to said minidriver to initialize said adapter,

computer readable program code means for requesting adapter stream information from said minidriver,

computer readable program code means for registering said adapter stream information,

computer readable program code means for providing a command to said minidriver to turn off power to said adapter,

computer readable program code means for paging out said minidriver,

computer readable program code means for paging in said minidriver upon receipt of a data stream request,

computer readable program code means for providing a command to said minidriver to turn on power to said adapter,

computer readable program code means for providing a data stream open command and stream structure data to said minidriver,

computer readable program code means for providing a stream read or write command to said minidriver,

computer readable program code means for providing properties and control information related to said stream request to said minidriver,

computer readable program code means for providing a stream close command to said minidriver upon receipt of a data stream termination command, and

computer readable program code means for providing an uninitialization command to said minidriver for uninitializing said adapter.